Civil Society and Democratic Life in the Post-Colonial World

Term:
Fall 2011

Subject Code:
GSOC

Course Number:
5046

The aim of this course is to introduce graduate students to the current debates regarding the changing relationship between civil society and democratic life in the post-colonial world of Latin America, India, Africa and the Middle East. In order to make sense of the different socio-historical trajectories, particular institutional configurations and divergent forms of civic democracy that emerged in this part of the world, we will adopt a common framework based on the work of Alexis de Tocqueville. During our dicussions, we will strive to develop a Tocquevillian account of postcolonial democracy as well as a postcolonial reading of Tocqueville.